Ninety Fourth Day of the Third Battle of Ypres

Thursday 1st November 1917

Today the only action of which we have heard at Ypres has been capture of a German pillbox by Nelson and Hawke Battalions of 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. Lieutenant-Colonel C H de St P Bunbury of 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment was admitted to hospital last night and so Major Reggie Wynne DSO is now in command of the Battalion.

The great news here today has not been actions here, however, but those in far-away Palestine. Yesterday British and Imperial forces attacked the Turks at Beersheba, 25 miles south-east of Gaza. The 1st/5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment was not involved in this - the attacking units being 10th (Irish), 60th (London) and 74th (Yeomanry) Divisions along with the ANZAC and Australian Mounted Divisions and the 7th Mounted Brigade of Yeomanry. Cavalry still play an important part in this war on more open battlefields with less trenches and machine guns.

The attack has been a great success. We understand that 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade performed a mounted charge which carried them right into the town of Beersheba, leading to its capture. Losses in the whole battle have been remarkably light by the standards of the Western Front, with less than two hundred of our men believed killed. Around a thousand Turks are believed to have perished with perhaps twice that number being captured.

Tibby Cotter

On a sad note, we hear that the Australian fast bowler Tibby Cotter has been killed. He was a stretcher bearer with 4th Australian Light Horse and, on entering Beersheba with his unit during the charge, he was shot at close range. He had a slinging action which generated great pace, though it is fair to say he was not always accurate. Nevertheless, on his day he was a fearsome opponent, and a fascinating site from the safety of the stands(1)

Source: X550/3/wd

(1) He was 33. His action was reminiscent of Jeff Thomson of latter years and he was probably as fast. Between 1904 and 1912 he played in 21 test matches, taking 89 wickets at an average of 28.64. In first-class matches he took 442 wickets at 24.27. Trooper Albert Cotter is buried in Beersheba War Cemetery.

Fifty Third Day of the Third Battle of Ypres

Friday 21st September 1917

Readers will recall my caution last evening about the gains of yesterday being subject to enemy counter-attacks. I am surprised, but delighted, to say that there have been none so we may take yesterday’s gains as true gains. There has been some fighting today as 41st Division made an attack using 123rd Brigade. Progress has been slow and limited in the bog which covers this part of the battlefield but a stream called the Bassevillebeek has been reached. The enemy counter-attacked the division this afternoon but all have been seen off. I understand that as I wrote this another counter-attack is developing(1)

As promised, I have been able to discover more of the role of 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, which launched a raid near Hollebeke on the extreme right flank of yesterday’s advance. The report below was handed to me by the commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel C H de St. P. Bunbury and is a copy of the summary sent to headquarters.

Captain W J Holbrook [X550/1/81]

“On the morning of 20th September 1917, zero hour 5.40 a.m. the Battalion carried out two minor operations in conjunction with a general advance of the 2nd and 5th Armies. Captain W. J. Holbrook M.C. and Second Lieutenant T. G. Searle M.C. were in command of a party consisting of fifty other ranks, with orders to raid the enemy Centre of Movement (shown on the map above) for the purpose of collecting information, capturing prisoners and machine-guns and damaging Dug-outs. They were accompanied by a party of eight Royal Engineers with blasting charges”.

Second Lieutenant T G Searle [X550/1/81] 

“The party, on nearing their objective, were fired on heavily both with machine -guns and rifles. This fire, so intense, and the wire discovered to be uncut, made further advance and return impossible. The party, among whom were several wounded, remained in shell-holes during the whole day and returned about 9 p.m. to our own line”.

“Much valuable information was collected from this enterprise”.

Simultaneously with the above, B Company on our left flank pushed forward their left post on the Ypres-Commines Canal to a line from No. 9 Post to the canal, in prolongation of the 6th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, thereby advancing about 300 yards. Our line then joined the Canal at about the position shown on the map”.

“This operation was entirely successful”.

The casualties for the raid included Second Lieutenant T G Searle MC who was wounded and is now missing(2). Amongst other ranks they were as follows:

• Killed 8;
• Missing 4;
• Wounded and missing 3;
• Wounded 13.

Lieutenant G R Jacob [X550/1/81]

Other casualties incurred included Lieutenant G R Jacob, who has been wounded, with three other ranks killed and five wounded.

Source: X550/3/wd

(1) It was ended by artillery, machine-gun and rifle fire.

(2) He was evidently killed or died of his wounds that day and he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, his body having never been recovered.

Second Day of Third Battle of Ypres

Wednesday 1st August 1917

After a successful commencement of the new offensive around Ypres yesterday, today has largely been a day of consolidation. We have been told that this is deliberate. The General Officer Commanding, General Gough, probably wants to make sure that all the units for the next stage of the attack are ready, in place and prepared before the next attack. This applies particularly to the artillery, which needs to register on new targets and, in some places, needs to be brought forward because the front line has gone forward so far.

Today has been another wet day, though decidedly cooler than yesterday, a whole ten degrees according to a fellow correspondent I overheard muttering about it after looking at a thermometer(1). The main action saw a determined German counter-attack against 15th (Scottish) and 8th Divisions, at their boundary, west of Glencorse Wood about 3.30 this afternoon. 15th Division was successful in beating off the attack on their front but 8th Division were pushed back. However, a counter-attack by the Royal Scots Fusiliers and Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders has, we understand almost restored the situation(2). The Australians were also on the receiving end of a counter-attack down near Warneton this morning, around dawn, and beat it off comfortably.

None of the battalions of the Bedfordshire Regiment have so far been involved in this offensive. However, 2nd Battalion, part of 30th Division, is at Stirling Caste, just behind the new front line. Early this morning the commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Bunbury, carried out a personal reconnaissance to determine where exactly his men were, after the confusion of yesterday when the division as a whole was unable to achieve its objectives and when a hastily called-upon attack by the Bedfords was, just as hastily, cancelled. Just because they are not in the front line does not mean, however, that the Battalion is safe from harm, so close are they to it. During the day enemy shell fire has killed five other ranks as well as  Second Lieutenant C H Shaw.

Source: X550/3/wd

(1) The highest temperature had been 69°F on 31st July (20.5°C), it was 59° on 1st August (15°C).

(2) By 9 pm the German gains had been neutralised.

Changes in the 2nd Battalion

Captain Beal [X550/1/81]

Tuesday 3rd July 1917

2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment is currently behind the lines at rest. There have been a number of changes today. Lieutenant-Colonel E S M Poyntz has gone on leave and Major B P Newbolt has gone to the army’s base at Rouen to join 48th Prisoner-of-War Company.

Meanwhile Captain L F Beal has rejoined the Battalion from the School of Instruction at Aldershot. Major C H de St.P Bunbury has joined the Battalion from the 2nd Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment as  temporary commanding officer in Lieutenant-Colonel Poyntz’s absence.

Source: X550/3/WD